NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Coaches of All-Time
By Will Osgood
26. Blanton Collier (1963-1970)
Blanton Collier had a relatively short NFL coaching career. But that’s partially because he was so successful as a college coach at the University of Kentucky. He is one of the few coaches in Wildcat football history to finish with a career winning record (41-36-3). Despite the success there, he was actually let go because of complaints from boosters.
But his staffs at Kentucky includes a who’s who of coaches in the early years of the modern football era. On that staff were Howard Schnellenberger, Don Shula, Chuck Knox and Bill Arnsparger, to name only the most notable.
Collier was a Paul Brown coaching disciple, and rejoined Brown when he was fired at Kentucky. He would go on to work as an assistant for Brown’s NFL team, before succeeding him. In eight short seasons, Collier won three division titles and one NFL championship (this was before the Super Bowl era).
He also nurtured a player many consider the best ever to play the game, Jim Brown, an ultra-talented running back from Syracuse. He also tutored one of the great early football Quarterbacks, Otto Graham.
His .691 career winning percentage is one of the most impressive of any coach to grace an NFL sideline.
Next: Which Washington coach comes in at No. 25?